Six years ago I read the first book in the Alcatraz series and really enjoyed it and meant to continue with the series. Now at last I’ve read the second book in the series and it was worth the wait. Sanderson’s Alcatraz Smedry is an unreliable narrator who keeps interrupting the story to deliberately make the reader question everything. It’s gimmicky but in-universe it works since the concept of this world is that evil librarians control reality. It’s a funny adventure set in the Library of Alexandria, and Sanderson is committed to the idea of the wraith-like curators persistently trying to trick the human visitors into taking a book in exchange for their soul. It’s a clever and enjoyable read and I should not wait so long to continue the series.

Recommended books: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer and Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins.Rating: ***1/2